THIS WEEK:
THE CITY BUDGET
THE FREE PARKING ON HOLIDAYS THAT’S NOT FREE.
THE BIG HEARING ON POWER RESPONSE
THE MAYOR STRONGLY DEFENDS THE CITY BUDGET.
WORRY ABOUT REVENUES — BUT CONFIDENT!
MGM RESORTS TO BUY EMPIRE CITY YONKERS CASINO
BURKE REHAB LAUNCHES THERAPEUTIC CENTER.
AND MORE.
AND THE INTERNET AT
www.wpcommunitymedia.org
The opening of the May 29 Public Hearing of the State Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions Tuesday at 10 A.M on the subject of storm response by utilities. It was not streamed on the internet on either the State Assembly website which gave NO instructions on their website on how to see the live stream or streamed live the Westchester Government website. This morning the complete video of the hearing was posted on the Assembly website, 48 hours after it happened, with again NO INSTRUCTION on the Assembly Main Page where to see the video, not even a photo and headline.
WPCNR THE POWER STORY. By John F. Bailey. May 31, 2018 UPDATED 3:35 PM EDT:
The public hearing that lasted 7-1/2 hours Tuesday held to ascertain the extent of the failure of area power companies to restore power across Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, and Putnam counties and points north for two weeks is now available for viewing on the New York State Assembly website.
Since this morning, WPCNR has learned through an informed source who was watching it that the Assembly did stream it live, but there was no instruction Tuesday morning on the NY Assembly Site Homepage, the source said. They also noted that less than 100 persons were viewing the stream at the time.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer addressing the Public Hearing Tuesday.
It me be of interest to Westchester residents and across the state, since this hearing was not streamed live by Westchester County government existing streaming technology, which they do for proceedings in that Michaelian Building Legislative chamber on virtually a daily basis.
To compound this inexplicable failure to communicate of how to see coverage an important hearing on the Westchester.gov website, the hearing was not streamed live on the New York State Assembly website.
I know that because I looked for it at 10:30 AM on the Assembly website and it was not there. It was not there. If it was being streamed, there is no way you could discover how to find it. When I punched the “Watch Live” button on the Assembly Home Page, I got a bunch of pictures with no promo of the current stream whatsoever. So either the assembly team had started it late. The Assembly Press Office has not responded to WPCNR for an explanation of this communications gaffe.
The hearing, also I am told by a responsible media person who was there was not covered by the local press or the New York metropolitan area outlets while it was live. No cameras were observed by the media expert contacted by WPCNR
There was also no coverage yesterday in the news outlets, paper or electronic. Where was the New York Times? The most crucial local story in the last month ignored by all the news fit to print.
Inquiries to Westchester County Board of Legislators Chair Benjamin Boykin, and the county press office as to whether the New York State Assembly denied Westchester County the live televising of the hearing have not been responded to.
The Assembly press officer contacted yesterday afternoon by WPCNR did not respond when asked when the Assembly would be finished posting the 7-1/2 hour hearing. I do note however it is up this morning. Good work, Assembly! It only took 48 hours.
The media source WPCNR spoke with yesterday said the State Assembly had brought in their own streaming equipment and crew to record the meeting.
So to catch you up on this hearing, here is where you can find it on the New York Assembly website.
The link to the public hearing is not splashed on the front Assembly Homepage, as if they almost don’t want you to look at it.
I mean if used taxpayer dollars to record something for 7 and a half hours I would think you would ballyhoo that. Splash it on the front page of the website. I would if I wanted you to see your state assembly at work.
The Assembly press office also did not respond to the WPCNR question asking if the assembly denied Westchester government the right to stream live from their own chamber.
Finding the video on the New York State Assembly is difficult. so here is how to find it, step-by-step:
1. Paste this in your browser:
http://nyassembly.gov/av/hearings/
2. In upper right hand corner of the website page, Click on
Video Camera Icon with the words “Watch Live” near the Facebook icon in the upper right.
You will be presented with the “Assembly Proceedings” Page, and in the center you will see a pic entitled “Committee Hearings”.
Click on that Committee Hearings photo and you will be taken to the video list, the hearing you want is this one entitled, and click on MP4 Video. It has all 7-1/2 hours of this marathon hearing.
| 5-29-18 Public Hearing on the Response of Utilities to Winter Storms in the Hudson Valley | May 30, 2018 | 07h 01m | Agenda | Video | MP3 Audio | MP4 Vid |
In the first 20 Minutes you will hear Amy Paulin of the 88th Assembly District, Chair of the County Board of Legislators, Benjamin Boykin, David Buchwald, Assemblyman.
County Executive George Latimer repeats his demand that the Public Service Commission examine and evaluate the mutual disaster aid plan the utilities now use (sending for convoys of equipment and crews from out of state) and that has failed repeatedly to restore Westchester County in a timely manner in storm after storm the last 18 years.
Also of note is the Public Service concerns in which their representative seems to be indicating according to a person who caught the testimony that their jurisdiction may not enable them to demand changes of the utility procedures that it is a matter of the state legislature to consider.
THE BUDGET APPROVAL SCENE LAST NIGHT AT THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS IN DOWNTOWN WHITE PLAINS NY USA. THE LIVELY 1-HOUR MEETING MAY BE SEEN HERE COMPLETE WITH THE LIVELY FEISTY INTERCHANGES OF MAYOR, COUNCILPERSONS AT
http://whiteplainsny.swagit.com/play/05302018-690
(Simply copy and paste the above url into your browser and Hit Go to see the entire council meeting last night)
WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. May 31, 2018 UPDATED, 12:10 PM EDT:
The Common Council approved a $193.9 Million Budget last night by a vote of 5-2, with Mayor Tom Roach, Councilpersons John Kirkpatrick, Nadine Hunt-Robinson, Jason Brasch, and John Martin voting to approve. Councilpersons Dennis Krolian and Milagros Lecuona voted against the proposal.
The Budget for 2018-19 increases $9 Million from $189 Million this year to $193.9 Million this year. The property tax increases 2.9%, from $205.42 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to $211.36 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Mayor Tom Roach in a hard-hitting, confident rousing defense of the budget said the increases amounts to 81 cents a month for the average assessed home in White Plains ($9.72 a year).
The budget in the ordinance approvals following the approval of the budget, approved a geographically sensitive parking policy, giving the city the power to price outlaying city parking lots away from the downtown, more leniently than the city garages in the center of town. The geographic areas have yet to be defined. Though it is not clear whether garages along Main Street will go up in price slightly, the Mayor said lots such as Waller and Maple would allow residents to park for more than one hour unlimited for $1.25. Currently there is, WPCNR believes a 1 hour limit.
Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona told WPCNR the policy is the beginning of implementing a system now in use in San Francisco where parking in the center of the downtown is more expensive than parking in the outskirts of the city limits. The city of Cincinnati also has implemented such a policy.
Another parking change was approved as part of the budget. An issue that new Councilman Justin Brasch campaigned on was put into effect. Parking will now be free in the City of White Plains on 6 National Holidays: July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Memorial Day.
Not Free Parking on Holidays in city garages or city lots.
The legislation approving the “Free Parking” on holidays, though only says parking is free at on-street meters. This means that if you go to White Plains on July 4 a Wednesday, you can park at meters on the street Free, but you have to pay for parking in the city parking lots and garages.
Raises of 2% were approved for Commissioners and the Mayor, and secretaries and staff of some departments, including the Mayor’s Office.
WPCNR SECURITY NEWS. From the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. May 31, 2018:
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